Daniel Gebreselasie received a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Asmara University (in Asmara Eritrea) in 1986. From 1986 to 1989, he worked as a lecturer in the Physics department of Asmara University. In 1989, he joined Baylor University (in Waco, Texas) to pursue Graduate studies in Physics. Daniel...

This book is a calculus based treatment of mechanics. The concepts discussed include, measurement and significant figures, motion variables, vectors, forces, relationship between forces and motion, relationship between forces and circular motion, work, energy, relationship between work and energy, potential energy and conservation of mechanical energy, momentum, conservation of momentum, collisions, center of mass, rotational motion, moment of inertia, torque, relationship between torque and rotational motion about a fixed axis, physics of solids and fluids, gravitation and oscillatory motion.

Introduction to Mechanics

Measurement

Significant Figures

Conversion of Units

Dimensional Analysis

Order of Magnitude Calculation

Brief Review of Trigonometry

Coordinate Systems

Motion in One Dimension

Brief Review of calculus

Motion Variables

Uniformly Accelerated Motion

Motion under Gravity

Motion Graphs

Vectors

Adding Vectors Graphically

Adding Vectors Analytically

Unit Vectors

Dot Product

Cross Product

Motion in Two Dimensions

Two Dimensional Motion Variables

Uniformly Accelerated Motion

Projectile Motion

Uniform Circular Motion

Non Uniform Circular Motion

Relative Velocity

Newton’s Laws of Motion

Types of Forces

Solving Force Problems

Statics

Dynamics

Circular Motion and Applications of Newton’s Second Law

Polar Unit Vectors

Circular Motion in terms of Polar Coordinates

Examples of Applications of Newton’s Second Law to Circular Motion

Work and Energy

Work done by a Variable Force in one Dimension

Work done by a Variable Force in two Dimensions

Work done by the Force due to a Spring

Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem

Power

Potential Energy and Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Conservative Force

Gravitational Potential Energy

Elastic Potential Energy

Conditions of Equilibrium

Central Forces

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Work done by non-Conservative Forces

Momentum and Collisions

Conservation of Momentum

One Dimensional Collision

Completely Inelastic Collisions

The Ballistic Pendulum

Completely Elastic Collisions

Two Dimensional (Glancing) Collisions

Center of mass

Rotation of a Rigid Object about a Fixed Axis

Angles

Angular Motion Variables

Relationship between Linear and Angular Variables

Uniformly Accelerated Angular Motion

Moment of Inertia

Rotational Kinetic Energy

Moment of Inertia of Solid Objects

The Parallel axis Theorem

Rolling Motion

Torque and Angular Momentum

Net Torque

Torque as a cross product

Relationship between torque and Angular Acceleration for a Rotation about a Fixed Axis

Work Done by Torque for a Rotation about a Fixed Axis

Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem for Work done by Torque

Angular Momentum

Conservation of Angular Momentum

Static Equilibrium

Torque due to Weight

Solids and Fluids

Solids

Fluid Statics

Fluid Dynamics

Gravitation

Orbits due to Gravitational Force

Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion

Gravitational Field

Gravitational Potential Energy

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Kinetic and Mechanical Energy of Objects in Orbit

Escape Velocity

Oscillatory Motion

Simple Harmonic Motion

Energy of a Harmonic Oscillator

An object attached to a spring

A Simple pendulum

Physical Pendulum

Torsional Pendulum

Brief review of Homogenous second order Differential Equations with Constant Coefficients